Only New York City's best bars can make it here.

McSorley's Old Ale House

2009 May 21

by Iheartnycbars

Opened in 1854, McSorley’s boasts of being NYC’s oldest continuously operated saloon. Even though it was inherited to an ex-policeman’s daughter in 1939, they didn’t let women in till forced to do so by a court order in 1970. Today, they still serve their tiny mugs of home brew in pairs, which are simply called either “light” or “dark”. They have food, which is good and inexpensive. The specialty is the cheese and onion plate, which pays homage to their 1900’s philosophy “Good Ale, Raw Onions, and No Ladies.” (I always get the burger.) It’s kind of ironic that such a cool old bar is overrun by such a young uncool fratish NYU crowd. It’s best to get there before 4 pm. That said everyone pretty much still abides by McSorley’s golden rule: “Be Good or Be Gone”.